17-13-0700 Planned manufacturing districts.

   17-13-0701 Purpose. The section sets forth the review and approval procedures for establishment of planned manufacturing districts. (See Sec. 17-6-0400 for PMD standards)

   17-13-0702 Applications.

      17-13-0702-A Authority to File. Applications to designate an area as a PMD may be filed by the Mayor, the property owners of all land within the boundaries of the proposed PMD, or the Alderman of the ward in which the proposed PMD is located.

      17-13-0702-B Filing.

         1.   An application for designation of an area as a PMD must be filed with the Zoning Administrator.

         2.   The Zoning Administrator must transmit an original copy of the application without delay to the City Clerk, who must record it in the proceedings of the City Council at its next regular meeting.

         3.   The Zoning Administrator must also transmit copies of the application without delay to the Plan Commission.

   17-13-0703 Community Meeting.

      17-13-0703-A Before the formal public hearing provided for in Sec. 17-13-0705, the Commissioner of Planning and Development must convene at least one public meeting in the ward in which the proposed PMD is located, for the purpose of explaining and soliciting comments on the proposal.

      17-13-0703-B The Commissioner of Planning and Development must give written notice to the respective Alderman of the time, place and purpose of the meeting and publish notice of the meeting in a newspaper of general circulation.

   17-13-0704 Recommendations – Zoning Administrator. The Zoning Administrator must review each PMD proposal and forward a recommendation on the proposal to the Commissioner of Planning and Development and the Plan Commission before the Plan Commission's public hearing (See Sec. 17-13-0705). The recommendation of the Zoning Administrator must also be forwarded to the City Council when the recommendation of the Plan Commission is sent to City Council.

   17-13-0705 Hearing – Plan Commission. The Plan Commission must hold a public hearing on all PMD proposals for the purpose of taking testimony and determining the industrial viability of the district and the need for PMD status. Written, Published and Posted Notice of the Plan Commission public hearing must be provided in accordance with Sec. 17-13-0107-A, Sec. 17-13-0107-B and Sec. 17-13-0107-C.

   17-13-0706 Plan Commission Recommendation. Within 7 days of the close of the Plan Commission public hearing, the Plan Commission must forward its findings, determination and recommendation to the City Council Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards.

   17-13-0707 Hearing – City Council Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards. The City Council Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards must hold a public hearing on all PMD proposals for the purpose of taking testimony and determining the industrial viability of the district and the need for PMD status. Written, Published and Posted Notice of the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards' public hearing must be provided in accordance with Sec. 17-13-0107-A, Sec. 17-13-0107-B and Sec. 17-13-0107-C.

   17-13-0708 Final Action – City Council. The City Council is the final decision-making body on PMD amendments. The City Council may act by simple majority vote.

   17-13-0709 Inaction by City Council. If the City Council does not take action on a proposed PMD amendment within 6 months of the day the Plan Commission recommendation is filed with the City Council, the applicant may consider the application to have been denied.

   17-13-0710 Review and Decision-Making Criteria.

      17-13-0710-A With respect to industrial viability, review and decision-making bodies must consider the following factors:

         1.   the size of the district;

         2.   the number of existing firms and employees that would be affected;

         3.   recent and planned public and private investments within the district;

         4.   the potential of the district to support additional industrial uses and increased manufacturing employment;

         5.   the proportion of land in the district currently devoted to industrial uses;

         6.   the proportion of land in the district currently devoted to non-manufacturing uses; and

         7.   the area's importance to the city as an industrial district.

      17-13-0710-B With respect to the need for planned manufacturing district status, review and decision-making bodies must consider the following factors:

         1.   evidence of conflict with or encroachment on industrial uses by nonindustrial uses;

         2.   demand for zoning changes or use conversions which may be incompatible with the character of the manufacturing district; and

         3.   continuing industrial viability of the area in accordance with Sec. 17-13-0710-A.

   17-13-0711 On-going Review by Plan Commission. The Plan Commission is responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of planned manufacturing districts in achieving the purposes set forth in Sec. 17-6-0401-A. The Plan Commission must recommend to the City Council changes in or repeal of a designated district if, after the hearings processes for district designation set forth in Sec. 17-13-0705 and 17-13-0705, it finds the purposes are not being met.

(Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275; Amend Coun. J. 3-9-05, p. 44391; Amend Coun. J. 11-19-08, p. 47220, Art. VII, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-17-10, p. 106597, Art. IX, § 11; Amend Coun. J. 11-8-12, p. 38872, §§ 274, 275; Amend Coun. J. 11-26-13, p. 67481, Art. I, § 30)